The Mascot Contest

We are the Roanoke College Maroons! We need a mascot. Roanoke is a classic college with all the classic college attributes but no mascot! So help us find a mascot—not a new name for our teams but an embodiment of the Maroons. Here’s your chance to help with the personification, the animalization or the characterization of the Maroon.

Why a contest? Well, mascot selection is hard work. And people keep asking “What IS a Maroon? It’s a color, but that’s a bit challenging to illustrate. So we’re takin’ it to the streets! We need YOU to submit ideas.

The Mascot Team already spent one afternoon with students at mascot “auditions.” They had some funny, zany ideas but none were really right. You’ll see these videos in the mix and they are good for a laugh and to know what we are NOT looking for.

The contest guidelines, parameters, limits, etc.

1. We are the Roanoke College Maroons and our colors are maroon and gray. We’re not looking for new names for our teams, and we’re not looking for new colors!
2. Be creative. You can be funny, or serious or even wacky. But we want real ideas for real mascots. Maroon Mascots!
3. It doesn’t have to be a person. It might be a person, it might be an animal, or it might be a concept.
4. Consider the competition. Roanoke College’s Maroon Mascot needs to be unique in Virginia and in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Click here for lists of Virginia college mascots and ODAC college mascots.You’ll notice insects are heavily represented in the ODAC so let’s not add another bug to the mix. And yes, we’re already thinking about a large flyswatter or a giant can of Raid for the mascot’s bag o’ tricks.
5. Like all Maroons, the Mascot will be an individual with a variety of attributes. Since the Mascot will represent Maroon Athletics, the mascot should be athletic (or at least willing to hit the Belk Fitness Center to get into shape). Perhaps the Mascot will be intimidating and will spread fear and trepidation throughout the ODAC. Perhaps the Mascot will be fierce and competitive, yet classic at the same time.
6. The Maroon Mascot has to be “something” that can attend games, maybe show some fancy dance moves, all while whipping up Maroon spirit in the crowd.
7. Still stumped? Visit the Maroon Mascot FAQ page for even more mascot drivel and links to sites that might help to inspire mascot ideas.
8. Anyone is eligible to suggest mascot ideas! The contest is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends of Maroons worldwide. Even the Mascot Team members, the group charged with overseeing the mascot selection process, are allowed to submit ideas.
9. All entries are subject to the Terms of Use.

Prizes, Fame and Glory:

1. The first 50 people who submit Maroon Mascot ideas will receive a Roanoke College shirt AND you’ll be entered into a drawing for an iPod—too bad they don’t come in Maroon but we’ll award one anyway!
2. After the submission deadline passes on October 1, 2008, the top five Maroon Mascot ideas will be selected by the Mascot Team for feedback from the College community. The feedback gathered from the web and from campus discussions then will be used in a recommendation to the College president for selecting the new mascot.
3. Prizes, fame and glory will be awarded to the originators of the top five ideas. The top five mascot ideas will earn $100 gift certificates to the Roanoke College Bookstore. The “creator” of the winning Maroon Mascot will, of course, receive special recognition and additional fame and Maroon glory!

Share YOUR idea for the Maroon Mascot

Step 1:
Come up with a great and useable idea for the Maroon Mascot. Get going! The individuals who submit the first 50 new ideas will be awarded Roanoke College shirts AND will be entered into a drawing for an iPod.

Step 2:
Describe your Maroon Mascot. You can do this in a variety of ways. You can submit a video showing your mascot idea or send in a picture. Or if you want to go old school, mail in a drawing or postcard to Maroon Mascot Search, Roanoke College, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153. The deadline for mascot idea submission is October 1, 2008. You can email your suggestions to mascot@roanoke.edu.

Step 3:
Check out the other mascot ideas and rate your favorites. http://www.classiccollege.com//.

Step 4:
Tell your friends about your idea and have them rate their faves.

Step 5:
In the fall of 2008, the Maroon Mascot team will select the top five mascot ideas. Check back then to see if yours made the list and evaluate your favorites!

Go Maroons!